OCR

Q WIZARD WILL, THE WONDER WORKER.
“ My boy, do you remember to have seen me before?”
“ No, sir; and yet it seems as if I had.”
“ It so seems to me, and your face comes to me like a. dream of the
past which I cannot recall; but-never mind; go and do as I have
told you, and you will get your pay,” and the man walked on down
the street; but before he had gone far he sprang into a hack, which
had evidently been waiting for him, and was driven away.
The boy thus intrustcd with what was evidently an important
-note, was an urchin of twelve; but he looked older, and there was
"that in his bright, handsome face whEc'1 denoted both courage of a
'31i h order and intelligence beyond his years.
c was poorly, very poorly clad, l)2.'.t his clothing was clean, and he
4C':idently tocl; pride in appearing at his best.
The locality he was in was a.’ hard one, one of the worst localities
in the city of New York, and rude, rough characters--men, women
and children s-were in the streets.
But the lad went on his way without noticing any one, and, as though
acquainted with his surroundings, turned into a wretched street that
“was little more than an alleyway.
He stopped at a. certain number and seized the bell knob, which
‘appeared to belong to a bygone age, and in fact the house was a.
quairit old structure that hid long: been the abode of poverty.
His three sharp rings, as he had been directed to give, were answered
by the door opening, seemingly without human agency, While a. gruff
‘voice demanded :
“ Well, step inside and tell me what you want?”
The messenger stepped into a small hallway, and saw before him,
as few feet (.ll.>l:3Tlt, another door, while, through an open panel in it
apeercd 9. m:1n’s face.
“ I wish to see Jerry, the Night Ilawlr,” explained the youngster.
“What do you want with him ?”
“‘ I have a letter for him.”
'“ Give it to me.”
" No, sir, for I have orders from my boss to give it only to Jerry."
“All right, you can go up and see him, top floor, right hand side
afront room," as the reply, and as the man spoke the other door closed
"behind the boy, the one in his front opened, and he found he was
-in a hallway, into which no doors opened, except the one
”5;hrougl1 which he had passed, and in the rear was only apair of stairs
Occupying the entire width of the narrow passageway.
A dim light came from above soinowhere, and the messen er
asfcnded the stairs to the second floor, where he saw doorsupon ei er
-“aide.
Ascending to the third floor, he sought the door to which he had
been directed, and knocked.
No answer came, and he waited a. while and again knocked.
Still no answer, and then his eyes fell upon a small knob, which he
- pulled and found to be a bell.
Still no response, and the thought came to him to ring it three
' ftimes, as he had the bell below stairs.
.I.'h1s he did, and instantly he heard :1 voice behind him.
4n..;.h.